Family Of Mollie Tibbetts Says Her Murder Is Not About Illegal Immigration

While the news about the murder of Mollie Tibbetts is utterly tragic, it has nothing to do with undocumented immigrants. That’s what at least some of Mollie’s family is saying now that conservative talking heads and politicians are making an example out of her death and exploiting her murder to make a point.

Billie Jo Calderwood, Mollie’s aunt, said on social media that her niece’s death should not be a hot topic among conservatives just because her killer is in the country illegally.

“Please remember, Evil comes in EVERY color,” Calderwood wrote on Facebook. “Our family has been blessed to be surrounded by love, friendship and support throughout this entire ordeal by friends from all different nations and races. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

Did people respect Calderwood’s wishes? Most people did; however, there were still a couple of people that couldn’t help but go off about undocumented immigrants. Like John Dean Heidenreich who wrote “Yes, evil comes in all races, etc but are we not to be upset that this man was in our country illegally? If our borders were secure and we had proper enforcement (even though I C E and border patrol are doing what they can, their hands are tied) If this piece of human trash had not been here Mollie would be alive today. That’s not racist, that’s the fact. I am sorry for your loss.”

Calderwood told CNN “I don’t want Mollie’s memory to get lost amongst politics,” and added that she’s only speaking for herself and not the entire family. But even in the statement released by Mollie’s immediate family, they made no mention of undocumented immigrants: “Our hearts are broken. On behalf of Mollie’s entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl. We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever. At this time, our family asks that we be allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private. Again, thank you for the outpouring of love and support that has been shared in Mollie’s name. We remain forever grateful.”

Another relative of Mollie, Samantha Lucas, wrote on Twitter (after a conservative person said Mollie’s death had everything to do with illegal immigration): “Hey I’m a member of mollie’s family and we are not so fucking small-minded that we generalize a whole population based on some bad individuals. now stop being a fucking snake and using my cousins death as political propaganda. take her name out of your mouth.”

Araceli Cruz is a freelance journalist living in Savannah, Georgia. She’s covered Latinx topics at Mitú and Brit + Co., and has written for publications such as Teen Vogue, The Village Voice, GOOD Magazine, and Rolling Stone, among others.